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What causes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Approved by our Clinical team | Apr 14, 2020

No one really know what causes IBS, but it may be triggered by stress, problems with your immune system, or a problem with how the muscles of your gut squeeze food through your bowel. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do, through diet and stress management, to control the condition and ease your symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of IBS

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The symptoms of IBS usually come on for the first time between the ages of 20 and 30. They tend to come and go in bouts, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods, and they can vary from person to person.

There are three main patterns of bowel symptoms in IBS:

IBS with diarrhoea - when you have repeated bouts of diarrhoea
IBS with constipation - when you have repeated bouts of constipation
IBS mixed - when you have repeated bouts of diarrhoea and constipation

IBS can also cause:

Stomach cramps
Bloating
A change in your bowel habits
Excessive wind
An urgent need to go to the toilet
A feeling that you need to open your bowels, even if you've just been to the toilet
A feeling that you’ve not fully emptied your bowels

IBS triggers

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Certain foods and drinks can trigger IBS symptoms. These vary from person to person so it’s a good idea to keep a diary of which foods and drinks make your symptoms worse, then you’ll be able to avoid them. Changing your diet is a key way to control the symptoms of IBS, but there’s no ‘one size fits all’ diet for people with IBS; it depends entirely on your symptoms and how you react to different foods.

Common food and drink triggers include:

Alcohol
Fizzy drinks
Chocolate
Drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee and coke
Processed snacks, such as crisps and biscuits
Fatty foods
Fried foods
Pastry
Certain meats, such as pork

Another common trigger of IBS symptoms is stress, so finding ways to cope better with stressful situations, such as breathing techniques or yoga, can be very helpful.

How to manage IBS

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When you can, cook homemade meals using fresh ingredients
Try to find ways to relax, like reading a book or meditating
Make sure to get plenty of exercise
Keep a diary to find out what may trigger your IBS
Try probiotics for a month to see if they help
Try not to delay or skip meals
Ideally don’t eat too quickly
Try to avoid eating fatty, spicy or processed foods. Read our food swaps guide for alternatives
It’s advised not to drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day, and to avoid drinking alcohol or fizzy drinks in excess

Medication for IBS

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Everyone will experience different symptoms of IBS, so there’s not one single diet or medicine that’s recommended for everyone. However, there are several over-the-counter options you can try that may relieve symptoms.

Senocalm 20 capsules - Senocalm capsules can help relieve symptoms of IBS including bloating and discomfort as well as spasms and cramps.
Alflorex Precision Biotics Capsules - Alflorex is a food supplement, which has been clinically studied in patients with IBS and shown to manage symptoms including abdominal pain and discomfort and bloating.
Buscopan IBS Relief - Buscipan IBS Relief helps ease symptoms of IBS such as abdominal cramps which cause pain and discomfort.
Enterosgel tubes and sachets - Enterosgel is a medical device in the form of a tasteless gel, that has been shown in a recent large UK clinical study to significantly reduce IBS symptoms of diarrhoea, abdominal pain, urgency and bloating.

As everyone experiences IBS differently, not all medications will work for everyone. If you’re not sure which one is best for you come in-store and talk to one of our pharmacists. They can help to recommend IBS treatments that work for you.

IBS support

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If you’re experiencing IBS, there are several places you can get help and advice. Your pharmacist can give you advice on diet and lifestyle, as well as talk you through the options for medicines that are available, depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Speak to your GP

If you’re experiencing symptoms of IBS, but haven’t been diagnosed yet, see your GP. If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS and need more advice about getting your symptoms under control, your GP can refer you to a dietitian. They may also refer you for psychological therapies if you’ve been living with IBS for a long time, haven’t yet found the right treatment for you and find stress or anxiety a trigger.

The IBS network

The IBS Network is a national charity for people with IBS. It provides information and advice about living with IBS, where you can find local support groups and also an online forum where you can talk to other people living with IBS and share tips.